Darryl Gregory BrohmanOAM(born 22 June 1956), also known by thenicknameof"The Big Marn",[4]is an Australian former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, andcoachedin the 1980s, now best known as acommentatorandmedia personality.Brohman played professional league for thePenrith Panthers,Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogsand theQueensland rugby league team.At present, he is working for2GBon itsContinuous Call Teambroadcasts, onThe Footy Showand makes guest appearances on the Australian version of theESPNshowPardon the Interruption.In the summer, he plays a small role in the nationally syndicated radio program entitledSummer Weekend Detentionwhich broadcasts from the Sydney studios of2GBon weekends during the summer months.
 Brohman in 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Darryl Gregory Brohman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 June 1956 Brisbane,Queensland,Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editBrohman attendedWavell State High SchoolinWavell Heights,one of Brisbane's northern suburbs, and completed his Senior year in 1974.
Personal life
editBrohman has a partner Beverly, and they have two children, daughters Lizzie and Ruby.
Playing career
editBrisbane
editWhile still at high school, Brohman played first grade forNorthsinBrisbane's competitionand was developing into a skillful, ball-playing forward with a good kicking game. He was awarded the Norths Player of the Year in 1976 and won Brisbane'sRothmans Medalas the league's best and fairest player in the same year, joiningJohn Brown,Steve Calder,Neville Draperand lookalikeDarryl Duncanas winners of the award from the Norths club.[5]
Sydney
editBrohman then moved to Sydney and played for thePenrith Panthers,from 1979 to 1983 (being the club's captain from 1982 to 1983[6]) and again from 1986 to 1987, and theCanterbury Bulldogsin 1984 and 1985. Brohman played twoState of Originmatches forQueenslandin 1983 and 1986.[7][8]Brohman amassed 95 tries during his playing career making him one of greatest ever front rowers to grace the field.
In his Queensland debut in the opening match of the1983 State of Origin seriesatLang Parkin Brisbane, Brohman had his jaw broken by an elbow tackle fromLes Boyd,which saw him sidelined for the rest of the season.[9]At the time, Brohman had been tipped to make hisTestdébut in the series againstNew Zealandstarting three days later, and would have been the Panthers' first international had this eventuated. That honour later went to hookerRoyce Simmonsin 1986. Ironically, the player who came off the bench for Queensland to replace Brohman,Manly-Warringah'sDave Brown,played well enough in the game to be selected in the front row for the test against the Kiwis atCarlaw Park.Brohman later sued Boyd over the incident and the matter was settled out of court.
Brohman returned to the playing field for the1984 NSWRL seasonwith theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs,where his skills as a talented ball-playing forward under the leadership ofSteve Mortimerhelped the club to theirGrand Finalvictory over theParramatta Eels.His last match was forPenrith Panthersin the1987 Reserve Grade Finalwin overManly-Warringahat theSydney Cricket Ground.Two of Brohman's teammates in the Panthers Reserve Grade side that day included future Australian internationalsMark GeyerandMark Carroll.
Post playing
editAfter he retired from playing, Brohman took up coaching for two seasons. Firstly, he coached theBrisbane Broncos' reserve grade side in 1988, before returning to Canterbury in 1989 to coach their reserve grade team.[10]While in Brisbane he lived rent-free at the home ofGus Gouldin Brisbane.[11]
In 2006, he was nominated as the one of front rowers in the 40th Anniversary Penrith Panthers "Team of Legends"[12]but lost out toTerry Geary(8 seasons – 1969–76) andTim Sheens(13 seasons – 1970–82).[13]
Brohman was awarded theOrder of AustraliaMedal in the 2020Australia DayHonours for "service to rugby league."[14]
Media
editBrohman later had a career in the media where he has worked for several radio stations across Sydney. Brohman's media career includes stints at2KA,ABC Local Radio,2UE,2SMand once before at2GB.He was a host on theNine Network'sThe NRL Footy Showfrom 2010 to 2018, including hosting the "Small Talk" segment, until the show was cancelled after 25 years on air. Brohman has been part of the menswear chainLowes's advertising campaigns, which also feature other former Rugby League players.[15]
References
edit- ^Rugby League Project
- ^Yesterday's Hero
- ^Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- ^Rothfield, Phil (1 August 2010)."The Big Marn's brave face".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney.Retrieved27 September2010.
- ^"Club History and Awards".Norths DevilsRugby League Football Club.Retrieved7 January2007.
- ^"Club Statistics – Penrith Panthers".rleague.com. Archived fromthe originalon 1 October 2007.Retrieved11 February2007.
- ^"Darryl Brohman's State of Origin appearances".Rugby League Project.Retrieved11 February2007.
- ^"Darryl Brohman's State of Origin statistical breakdown".Rugby League Project.Retrieved11 February2007.
- ^Gallaway, Jack (2003).Origin: Rugby league's greatest contest 1980 – 2002.University of QueenslandPress. p. 41.ISBN978-0-7022-3383-8.
- ^"Player profile of Darryl Brohman".Canterbury Bulldogs.Archived fromthe originalon 30 July 2008.Retrieved20 July2008.
- ^"The Big Marn leaves the boys in stitches over ALL-TIME story: Turn It up | NRL on Nine".YouTube.14 July 2024.
- ^"Full list of nominees for Penrith Panthers Team of Legends".Penrith PanthersRugby League Football Club. Archived fromthe originalon 11 February 2007.Retrieved11 February2007.
- ^O'Neill, Matthew (5 October 2006)."Penrith's 40-year team announced and 2006 Panthers awards".Rleague.com. Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2006.Retrieved11 February2007.
- ^Stehle, Mark (25 January 2020)."Australia Day Honours 2020: Full list of recipients".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved25 January2020.
- ^"NRL Footy Show axed by Channel Nine due to poor ratings after 25 years on air".ABC News.2 October 2018.